Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have joined a growing chorus calling for Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw from the race following sexual assault allegations.
Platner, who is part of a wave of progressive Democrats winning primary elections this year, said he is “taking the time” to consider his next steps after recent reports of sexual assault claims made in 2021.
In a joint statement, Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, stated: “The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing — violence, abuse, and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable.”
They added that “Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
Under Maine law, Democrats have until July 13 to withdraw Platner from the race. If he does, the state party would have two weeks to select a replacement nominee.
Schumer had supported Platner only after his preferred candidate, Gov. Janet Mills — who suspended her campaign shortly before the June 9 primary — was rejected by voters.
Platner’s campaign faced renewed turmoil Monday after reports detailed allegations from Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine woman, who claimed that he sexually assaulted her in 2021.
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” Racicot said. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.'”
Platner denied the allegations but indicated he is weighing his campaign’s future. He stated: “I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false.”
Platner has faced scrutiny in recent months over online posts, sexting with other women after getting married, and criticism over a tattoo that resembles a Nazi symbol.
He has disputed or pushed back on aspects of the allegations and sought to reassure voters that he has changed from earlier periods of his life.
After Monday’s reports, Schumer and the DSCC were not alone in their call for Platner’s withdrawal. Maine’s Democratic Party leadership also urged him to step down, stating: “Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today’s statements take those allegations even further.”
The Maine Democratic Party added: “Maine Democratic Party leadership is calling on Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.”
Other progressive leaders, including Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Ruben Gallego, withdrew their support. Khanna wrote: “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race.” Gallego added: “The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious.”
